Service Times

Turkey to Keep American Pastor in Prison

Turkey -

An American pastor facing 35 years in prison in Turkey for alleged ties to terrorist groups will not have a chance to leave prison until his next hearing on July 18, the court presiding over his case decided on Monday after dismissing all witnesses assembled to defend the pastor without listening to their testimony.

Pastor Andrew Brunson has preached in Izmir, Turkey, for two decades. Despite being a Christian, he faces charges of supporting Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen and the Marxist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) organization. Brunson denies the charges.